Reimagining a River, and a Community
I took Science Story during my last term at UO, and it was the final class I needed to complete my science communication minor. In the class, students tell place-based stories that connect to science and utilize diverse visual mediums. Throughout the term, I worked closely with Torsten Kjellstrand, a documentary filmmaker, and Dennis Dimick, a former environment editor for National Geographic, to develop my story about Leaburg Dam — set to fall in 2032.
Leaburg is one of nine unincorporated towns in the McKenzie River Valley, and Leaburg Dam cradles a small lake not only beloved by locals, but brings tourists to small businesses. Leaburg Dam also provides two fish hatcheries with water and allows a dozen homeowners to access their properties. In short, Leaburg depends on Leaburg Dam, so I sought to capture that relationship and ask residents how they're navigating this period of flux, their future decided but still far away.
This story was was challenging for two reasons. First, it was a microcosm of many issues that characterize the American West: energy, water rights, hatchery fish versus wild fish, recreation, salmon runs and dam removal. As such, keeping this story narrow and focused was a constant, conscious effort. Second, I had to actively keep my biases in check. As an environmental studies student, I understood how dams impact the ecological health of rivers and initially struggled to empathize with those opposed to dam removal. As I was reporting, however, I began to see it as a loss of place and memory. Read the full story below, or if you like pictures (and I strongly encourage you to), check out Science Story's website.